The 30th Day of the 5th Month

Posted on May 30, 2014 by TheJessicaness
Lyra sharing chicken and pilaf with Jake

Lyra sharing chicken and pilaf with Jake

Caleb got an email last night letting us know the dogs’ itinerary. They will be kennelled for two days and then arrive a day after us. It dampened my mood, but the hour-long conversation before bed cheered me up – or so I thought. I went to bed last night and slept in until 9:30, even though Robert got here at 6:30. The puppies stayed in the room to keep me company and Caleb has proof of my laziness, or procrastination in wanting to deal with what today has to bring.

the clock in the shop

the clock in the shop

When I got up Lyra was eating Cheerios and putting gloves on her feet. I had some leftover oatmeal with peanut butter and Caleb decided to wear his nuts instead of eat them. The nieces seem to bring out his inner child. We made a shopping list – flax-seed for waffles and whatever we wanted for dinner. We went to the Good Food Store with Robert and decided on Italian spaghetti – sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and olives, with parmesan cheese, noodles, and minced garlic from Robert’s, with eggs and mushrooms from his fridge. We also picked up rice pilaf, refried beans, and a can of chicken from Robert’s to have for lunch.

Jake modelling the base of his cup

Jake modelling the base of his cup

Lyra enjoyed the chicken, but didn’t want the peas from the pilaf with it – good thing her and Jake were sharing. Caleb went into the shop to finish his cup – put handle on, sign the bottom – and I left the men alone while I walked with Lyra to pick up Sammi from school. We arrived 20 minutes early and went to the playground. We went to the small playscape and each got a slide, then I sat in a spinning chair and once I got myself going I couldn’t stop and told Lyra to get back because I would have to jump out.

Caleb scraping his cup

Caleb scraping his cup

While the wood chips were still spinning she was asking me to come pick her up and swing her. She wanted to go really high. We went to the tall blue slide where she wanted me to take pictures of her sliding down and we did that until the older kids came over, then went to the big swings where we stayed until I thought of Sammi. We were having so much fun and when we made it to the front of the school the principal had already finished her conversation with Jake, but mistook me for Jessi and kindly re-explained Sammi’s day.

We're off to see the playground...

We’re off to see the playground…

I thanked her and as we walked away Jake told me how he realized the awkwardness of that and tried to apologise, but I’m ok. The girls picked up some seed pods on the way home. Caleb got on Sammi’s bike, using his knees to peddle with, and put on her triceratops helmet. Lyra wanted a turn and Caleb had to hold her up. The current way to train your kids off training wheels is to take the pedals off their bike until they learn to balance – this way they fall off going slower.

Lyra on the big blue slide

Lyra on the big blue slide

Well of course Sammi didn’t want Lyra on her bike so we found her red tricycle that she could ride around the yard sans helmet. Lyra found a large foldable frisbee and played fetch with Caleb in the backyard. Then, for whatever reason, the man cutting trees away from power lines next door got Piggy’s attention and she started barking at him. This is two days in a row. She’s setting her own personal record.

Lyra watching her shadow on the swing

Lyra watching her shadow on the swing

Jake played with the girls outside while the rest of us sat around the table. They had fun watering the plants and gardens, playing on the neighbor’s longboard, and being owls keeping their feathers wet in the lawn sprinkler. I helped dry them off when they started getting cold. Jake’s mom stopped by the back door and was gone without a hello, then Jake left to spend a night out with Jessi. We got the girls into their jammies even though it was only 5pm – they weren’t going anywhere for the rest of the evening.

Caleb holding up Lyra on Sammi's bike

Caleb holding up Lyra on Sammi’s bike

Father and son made dinner for the ladies. The girls got buttered noodles with cheese that they pretended were worms and that they were T-rex’s eating them. It takes a lot of worms to fill such a big dinosaur and both had seconds if not thirds. After dinner the girls ‘fished’ (jumped off the couch towards things on the floor – clothes and toys) while we cleaned up the table and kitchen.

Despite all my cuteness I am still just a girl behind a screen

Despite all my cuteness I am still just a girl ‘in’ a screen

I read a fruit and vegetable book to the girls, and learned about spicy papaya seeds, while Caleb and Robert went to Dairy Queen – vanilla for the girls, strawberry cheesecake for me, chocolate turtle for Robert, and a strawberry sundae waffle cone for Caleb. I had told Sammi to wait on dessert, but she was determined to finish her carrot (a foot long snack from earlier) and who am I to deny a child willing to eat vegetables. We had Lyra convinced that she was eating cauliflower ice cream – something I want to try.

a wet owl and her shadow

a wet owl and her shadow

Of course after dessert the girls have more energy to burn. They are on and off the couch and Sammi is giving Lyra piggyback rides. Caleb took Robert home while I got the girls ready for bed. I got Sammi to use toothpaste because it helps keep the night bugs off. I helped Lyra brush hers and it was cute to watch her try to spit into the sink. Sammi showed me her My Little Pony collection and told me each one of their names – all unique and creative.

dinner!

dinner!

Caleb walked in and let me know that the host couple would be home soon and I should try to beat the clock and get the girls to sleep. It was 9:30 and I talked them into laying down. The rule (as determined by Sammi) was that I had to snuggle with Lyra and have conversation time with her. We played the alphabet game – Sammi asking me and Lyra to name something that started with the next letter. I would pick a word and then whisper an answer into Lyra’s ear – usually a bigger word. It was adorable to hear her soft voice.

a T-rex eating a worm

a T-rex eating a worm

I heard the adults in the living room before Sammi did, but it didn’t take her long to peek (get out of bed and look around the corner) and see what was going on. She assured me it was easy as she had done it before when she got in trouble. As soon as she announced that mommy and daddy were home Lyra jumped out of bed and went running to the couch. We talked for a moment longer and then the family was off to bed. I suggested we do the same. We should have another full day tomorrow – and an early one so that we can make waffles!

a T-rex with a long arm

a T-rex with a long arm

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Clay Thursday

Posted on May 29, 2014 by TheJessicaness
Jake and Lyra playing with stickers

Jake and Lyra playing with stickers

Jessi makes oatmeal for breakfast, walks Sammi to school, then rides her bike to work. Caleb and I eat while Lyra watches Sesame Street and then Caleb hangs our clothes on the line to dry. Jake gets the shop ready for making ceramic cups before joining us, while Caleb and Lyra have fun identifying things (ex. Tyrannosaurus rex and Swiss cheese – her words) on stickers from her large reusable book including scenes from Finding Nemo, Cars, Toy Story, and Ratatouille.

Lyra looking at Caleb's tattoo

Lyra looking at uncle Caleb’s tattoo

We watch Jake make a cup while I help Lyra get more oatmeal, keep Piggy out of the shop, and water the garden. Watching these two, Jake teach Caleb, reminds me of Caroline and me. The teacher is smooth, quick, and coördinated. The student struggles at first, makes it look like they know what they are doing, and then they present their proud work. Caleb started out easy enough, then his cup got wobbly for a bit, and that’s all it took to put a chip in the rim.

Caleb having fun with clay

Caleb having fun with clay

We have enough time to pick up Robert later than we had planned, but still early enough for his heart doctor to make sure he’s still ticking properly. They buy drinks in the café while I check out the gift shop with no need for stuffed animals, flowers, and get well cards. Then I look at the large library with books available for patients and family members about health and disease, life and loss, and some magazines. There are also shelves displaying pioneer medical equipment and historical documents.

Jake's hands at work

Jake’s hands at work

We read from ’Tis while we wait for Robert’s return – which isn’t long. We go to the store to pick up ingredients for squawkos and go through self check-out with our squash, chard, etc. On the receipt it says, ‘Your Cashier Today Was Self’ and the cashier that keeps an eye on the four check-out registers tells me, “Good Job Self!” when she overhears me reading it happily.

Caleb making a cup

Caleb making a cup

We swing by Robert’s to get him something un-squash to eat and get back to the house to the girls making pretend syrup with dandelions and leaves from the yard. I eat the rest of my salad from last night and talk with Robert while Caleb makes the handle for his cup and Jake helps the girls make cups for each other and then tiny animals. Caleb’s cup ends up with a dent in the bottom from him dropping it and a fingerprint from each niece from their curiosity.

medical artifacts

medical artifacts

Then, for the first time in four years, we get to hear Piggy have a barking spree. She usually gives one loud woof if she has to let her bladder leak or fill her gut on something besides random things found in the house or yard or Caleb’s book bag. We yell at Sparky to shut up, but I try to catch this moment on video since it doesn’t happen ever and I can appreciate it more. I prefer when Sparky does his talk-bark or grumbles. I don’t mind the barking, except when it’s in the house, car, tent – enclosed and usually places that echo.

Sammi showing us her horse

Sammi showing us her horse

Jake and Caleb start dinner while Lyra and Boompa play together in the living room. She’s talking to him when she points at his arm, “There’s a clock, in your watch” in a questioning tone. It’s cute and funny, and he asked for verification if there wasn’t a watch in his clock. My Little Ponies take over the living room when Sammi brings them out of the bedroom and dinner is served when Jessi arrives.

Jake and Lyra with her tortilla hat on

Jake and Lyra with her tortilla hat on

The fun doesn’t stop there. I wonder if the tortilla hat is worn for the camera as I remember my mom telling me when she was growing up that at the dinner table they were given the option to eat or wear their food. I would’ve worn so many things (shrimp gumbo, anything with ground beef, and the stuffed cabbage with hot sauce, etc.) had I been given the chance. I didn’t become a vegetarian for the animals sake, I did it for my own narcissistic reasons. I don’t like the way they taste dead, though I’m sure live is more difficult to chew and a bit bloody.

sunflower waffle recipe from online

sunflower waffle recipe from online

I try calling Sherri to get her sunflower waffle recipe. We have it written down on a card, but I never posted it to my blog (like I should have), so we will have to look to the internet for similar inspiration. Sammi has one-on-one time with Jessi and then goes to bed quietly and easily. The adults watch Lyra play some educational app games before she too is off to bed. We all talk for another hour before doing the same.

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Off To School

Posted on May 28, 2014 by TheJessicaness
Lyra on the counter

Lyra on the counter

I woke up at 7 when Robert came through the front door. I helped get Sammi ready for school – lunch bag out of fridge – and then Caleb and I walked her to the playground where she waits for the bell to line up. While we waited Sammi and Ruby, a friend from school, took turns sitting in a spinning chair and getting dizzy. We left after watching the teacher take her class down the sidewalk and into the school.

Missoula County Court House

Missoula County Court House

Caleb called the place that we will be dropping our car off to and after getting hung up on three times finally got an appointment scheduled for the afternoon of the day we leave in the early morning, but it was better than trying to push our schedule up by three days. I tell him he can have some Grumpios for breakfast – making a reference to the bad mood this stuff puts us both in and the comment Robert made about Caleb’s ‘I just woke up’ face.

Jessi at work

Jessi at work

Caleb, Robert, and I sat around the table filling out a crossword while Jake and Lyra read more of the paper and Jake shared his input while getting Lyra Cheerios. This lasted until 11 when I got the last of the coffee, a half cup, and made a piece of toast. Caleb asked if I was hungry and Jessi recommended Romaine’s, but Robert wanted Vietnamese. We took him with us, a local GPS, to the courthouse to get our title cleared of the lien (that will be in the mail in 2 weeks), then to the bank where Jessi works to find out about a power of attorney (she is one but there would be a conflict of interest with family) and we need to go to the library to pick up the form.

Caleb at Vietnam Grill

Caleb at Vietnam Grill

We decide to walk to lunch first. About three blocks away is Vietnam Grill – two pho’s, a rice noodle, some dirt flavored water with four lemons to mellow the taste, and a coffee with condensed milk. We walk back to the car where Robert and I will wait since there is still plenty of time on the meter while Caleb walks the six blocks to the library. He gets it signed while I get shown the bathroom in the back of the bank. We wave to Jessi on our way out as she is going back in from lunch since she forgot hers at home.

Caleb and Robert - gunsmithing

Caleb and Robert – gunsmithing

We go to Robert’s so that we can print out the USDA inspection forms that the dogs will need signed so that they can fly. The lady that books the tickets has harassed Caleb about the forms, but they are only valid for ten days so we have to get them close to when we leave and the tickets can’t be bought until seven days till. I’m hoping by dropping them off the day before that they will arrive before us and be waiting there. It will be stressful enough on all of us being apart, let alone having any other difficulties or delays.

Sammi in her playhouse

Sammi in the playhouse

Caleb got out his pistol and rifle parts and had some good father/son time learning just a bit of what his dad went to gunsmithing school for so many years ago. At 5pm, we leave so I can check on the dogs. They are doing great and the girls are in the backyard in their playhouse. Sammi waters the yard and runs around while Lyra plants some more seeds and beans in their fairy garden. We start thinking about dinner and go inside to look up ideas. We settle on Sean Kelly’s – Irish and Indian food.

Lyra in the fairy garden

Lyra in the fairy garden

Jessi gets home and goes over the crossword while we order sweet potato fries, pub chips with cheese, stuffed beef patties, tofu with curry, a reuben for Caleb (that I try), and a warm brie salad for me (that I can only eat half of). While all this is going on, the neighbor is moving and giving Jessi boxes of frozen meat, stuffing, fruit cups, oatmeal, spices, condiments, jars of peanut butter, drinks, tiny cups, paper plates, and bleach. After the girls finish their dinner they have mandarin oranges for dessert and Sammi shows Lyra some stretches from class – anything to delay bedtime.

selfie in the backyard!

selfie in the backyard!

I know the importance of naps, playdates, school and its related activities, and grandma’s house. They are breaks from your kids so you can clean, sleep, or relax. Movie time helps out around here and I applaud Jessi and Jake for finding time for hobbies, exercise, friends, and family – and ways to include the girls. Sleep will come quickly tonight. Teeth are brushed, pajamas put on, and beds climbed in for kids, puppies, and adults. I’m in a room surrounding by breathing noises and tummy burbles and soft light. 

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Whipped Cream Pizza Trees

Posted on May 27, 2014 by TheJessicaness
lunchbox love

lunchbox love

I slept until 8 and then watched All Dogs Go To Heaven with Lyra until Caleb and Jessi got back from dropping Sammi off at school. I took a shower, then ate toast and some of Jessi’s smoothie for breakfast. Jake got home, and Caleb and I went to pick up Robert who would give us directions to the DMV where Caleb was able to get his driver’s license renewed in 30 minutes, after 13 years. The lady gave him crap about not knowing where he lives when he put county 41 on the paperwork instead of county 4.

Lyra enjoying a moment

Lyra enjoying a moment

We went back to Robert’s so that Caleb could fix his dad’s computer and then use it to submit his chief’s package while I sat outside (for better internet) and paid bills. At 1:30 it was lunch time and we went to The Staggering Ox – one of our top 5 sandwich places. We sat outside, but I moved us in away from the wind. After bread guts were on their way to our intestinal tracts we went back to Jessi’s to hang out with Jake and Lyra until it was time to pick up Sammi from school at 3. We took the dogs and met her teacher who knew all about the furry guests – Sparky and Piggy, of course.

art in the shed

art in the shop

Sammi had a substitute music teacher and got to sing about monkeys jumping on the bed. She had a good day at school and at home I found a note from Jake in her lunch box – something cute I’d only seen online before. At home the girls had fun asking the dogs to do tricks and then giving them dog biscuits and cheese pizza. We all went to the backyard so Caleb and Jake could dig holes to plant some trees – sugar maple, apricot, and plum.

Lyra watering the garden

Lyra watering the garden

Inside Jake’s shop I let my eyes slowly wander over his many collections – bottle caps, tools, trinkets, magnets, art by daughters, and over 100 PEZ dispensers ranging from TMNT to Star Wars to Simpsons to Disney. There’s a story that goes with them too – Jake had five, someone didn’t want theirs anymore and gave them all to Jake. I learned my lesson. When someone adds to your stash – downsize.

Lyra playing tree

Lyra playing tree with Jake

Sammi played in her room until it was time to hose down the new hole while Lyra pretended to be a tree – playing with dirt and water. Then Sammi built Lyra into a fort that she didn’t want to let her out of. It reminds me of great childhood memories when I left my sister in a large rabbit cage behind the barn while I went inside to eat lunch. Lyra took turns watering the newly planted tree and herself while Sammi went back inside.

Boompa and Lyra

Boompa and Lyra

The guys put up a protective fence (got to keep your tree safe from unicorns) because I doubt that little cage of wire will do any good against the two youngins if left unsupervised (it is shiny). Lyra takes off her clothes and waters them too. Glad to see she is in the growing spirit. She finds a stroller in the yard and gets too close to Grandpa, but laughs as he tosses her about in it before Caleb races around the yard with her.

Caleb and Lyra

Caleb and Lyra

Then Boompa (Grandpa Robert) gets ahold of the water hose and sprays it like an innocent child’s water fountain until Lyra runs into their playhouse. He tells me to take the hose over to the window and spray her, but the window is closed so I open the door as she turns around. I grab the handle and the water hits her in the face. I thought it might be upsetting but the look on her face was hilarious.

Lyra after getting sprayed in the face

Lyra after getting sprayed in the face

I went inside and Sammi read me her story that she had written based on a book about rabbits that want to watch the sunset before bed that she had read. It’s much more funny to listen to Boompa read it exactly as written and have Sammi correct him – it’s all a learning experience. Sparky gets loaded up on cheese pizza from the girls and the guys come in after planting one tree – and digging the holes for the rest.

Jessi and Lyra - and Sammi playing with trains

Jessi and Lyra – and Sammi playing with trains

Uncle Ed texted me that the car title is being overnighted for $55 – who did they ship through? He wanted to Skype and say hi to everyone but I couldn’t get an internet connection so we just talked for a bit on the phone. He received our deposit check and we should see that in the bank later so we can pay on our credit card.

Sammi playing with trains

Sammi playing with trains

Jessi got home after 6:30. Jake started dinner of pesto avocado noodles with tomato slices on the side and then went with Caleb to buy three bags of mulch so that Caleb and Jessi could finish planting the trees. We had a picnic outside with raspberries, whipped cream, and cinnamon chips for dessert. Robert had brought some meat from his house and the dogs enjoyed sharing the bone while Caleb played with the boneless one. The girls played with trains and Jake cleaned up after a day of gardening while the rest of us talked. We went in when it started to sprinkle a little more than it had all day.

Lyra eating dessert

Lyra eating dessert

Lyra played with trains on the back porch while Sammi played in their room. Lyra had an orange while Jake packed part of Sammi’s lunch since she got invited to have pizza with the principal and then it was bedtime for the girls. Lyra was quick to get into pajamas and pass out. Sammi sat in bed watching her lighted turtle illuminate the ceiling before finally going to sleep.

Sammi eating raspberries

Sammi eating raspberries

I offer to take Robert home as he starts to nod off in a chair. Caleb comes with and when we get back, the adults will sit up for another hour talking about childhood, parents, and other funny stories. I remembered it was Tiffany’s birthday, so I texted her, then went into the room to get into jammies and grab my toothbrush. Sparky had already gone to bed and was resting under the covers with his head between the pillows.

Caleb and Piggy

Caleb and Piggy

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Blue Buffalo Backyard

Posted on May 26, 2014 by TheJessicaness
table in The Book Exchange

table in The Book Exchange

I woke up at 7:30 to Sparky in my face. The rest of the house woke up at 9am and we picked up Robert on our way to Paul’s Pancake Parlor. We went to The Book Exchange next door while we waited the thirty minutes for two booths to hold the seven of us at 11:20. I ordered blueberry sourdough pancakes – a delicious first and had some of Caleb’s biscuit with gravy on it, even though there was visible meat chunks. Our waitress, Becky, didn’t have a sense of humor and had a sloppy pouring arm – spilling coffee and water.

hanging out in the front yard

hanging out in the front yard

Caleb and I sat with Grandpa and the other four sat behind us in the corner booth. Somehow Robert managed to get me to put pepper in my water – enough to see but not taste – and I drank it. I used to have more than that in my meal competitions in Waffle House while I was still in Pensacola or back home with siblings mixing things out of the fridge or classmates creating things from our lunch trays. It made the meal interesting. Jessi took the girls to the car to get them situated while we stuck behind to pay the bill and then drop Robert off at home.

Sage, Harry, and Sammi in the backyard

Lily, Harry, and Sammi in the backyard

We came back to the house after breakfast to let the dogs out and let the girls change into hiking clothes from the pajamas Lyra is wearing and the ballerina outfit Sammi has on. We’re standing in the yard watching the girls climb a tree and I see a spider descend in front of Jessi. I say, “You might want to back up a bit”, but it’s too late. The arachnid is attached to her somehow. I say, “It’s on you!” and she jumps back, knocks her glasses off, and then goes inside to change.

view of the disc golf course

view of the disc golf course

All the tree climbing and excitement has worked up the girls’ appetite and they will munch on graham crackers while I go with Jessi to get school books. When we get to the bookstore they’re closed, so she takes me from the fancy and professional looking buildings to the 70s style elementary school turned, used to be technical college, into university. While Jessi talks to the man behind the counter I see a box of Screen Cleanin’ Mist: “Public restroom seats are 50 times cleaner than most laptops.”

Sammi at the park

Sammi at the park

Sammi’s friend Lily came over while we were gone. Jessi and Jake like Sammi’s quieter friends. The girls find Harry, the orange cat, in the backyard and begin pouring dirt on his belly – the one I’m sure he recently spent hours licking clean. He puts up with a lot around here and being the smallest you are always the most susceptible to either being picked on or left out as any youngest sibling can attest to, but cats can’t eventually become the more muscular or taller of the bunch – just fatter or faster.

sisters playing at the park

sisters playing at the park

We drive to Lolo where there is a buffalo ranch nearby to show the girls how close bison can live to the city, but their usual location is flooded, so Jessi and Caleb stand near the railing staring off into the distance as if they were just selected for The Hunger Games before deciding that we can come back and look some more after our hike at the East Area of Blue Mountain. Jake brought his bag of frisbees and the guys have fun throwing them for the girls through an official course – through trees and over hills – practice and play at the same time.

making our way through the course

making our way through the course

We go one way and then another and have to turn around when we almost interfere with another game. We skipped one basket on accident and played through another quickly while a family was in the ditch nearby looking for their frisbees. We had to keep the girls from grabbing ones that weren’t theirs. Having pink and purple ones to look for made it easier to separate from the greens, blues, and oranges.

Lyra getting her frisbee

Lyra getting her frisbee

Lyra starts to get tired, so Jessi carries her on our search for the car. We find a parking lot with a map, and then Caleb will take turns carrying the girls as we cross the street again, climb up an embankment or two, and find our way back to the car. We went back by the Bitterroot Bison Co. and found them in the far back – a large herd of at least 50 with a few calves, but all of them future robes, skulls, and meat.

Jessi and Lyra at the park

Jessi and Lyra at the park

 

We’re ready to go, but Sammi wants to go into detail about something with Caleb. I get in the car and honk and what we all think is funny only upsets the little talker, but it gets my husband in the passenger seat and lets Lyra fall asleep so we can go home and prepare dinner. I watched more of Frozen with Sammi and Jake, while Lyra napped, waiting on Jessi and Caleb to go to the store and then pick up Robert.

dinner in the backyard

dinner in the backyard

We have pizza – one with cheese and one with spinach and artichoke, and the girls can make their own pizza – meaning putting the sauce, cheese, and pepperoni on it to their liking. We also have a Greek salad, and I will try a Flathead cherry ale from Glacier Brewing Co., to go with our picnic in the backyard. All the people sit on the blanket while the dogs sit in the grass with their noses very close to the girls in high hopes.

cookie monster!

cookie monster!

We come inside and as the chocolate chip cookies bake Sammi feels that the dogs deserve dessert too, so we hand her some of their peanut butter treats and she shouts out commands. Lyra has her cookies with milk and hilarity. The adults eat ours while telling funny stories about family members, old friends, coworkers, and strangers. I think the adults get tired before the kids and I’m definitely ready for a nap even though we got more sleep last night than we have for a week of the trip.

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